Waste pipe cleaner



Jan- 26, 1937- M. F. szUKALsKl. JR.,v ET A| 2,069,100

WASTE PIPE CLEANER Filed June 21, 1935 ["l-A-E 201'; Kals K1, Er- Q M-F- zuKals 1, JT*- Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED S ATENT CFFICE WASTE PIPE CLEANER Application .lune 21, 1935, Serial No. 27,691

2 Claims.

This invention appertains to plumbing, and more particularly to means for effectively clearing drain pipes and the like. It oftenrhappens that drain or waste pipes 5 f leading from sinks, bowls, etc., become clogged with matter that can be dislodged if proper pressure can be forced into the pipes without the necessity of calling a skilled plumber. Householders often employ a plunger (a hollow,

semi-spherical, rubber head affixed to an operating handle). However, these plungers are in most instances ineffective, and do not successfully clean the pipes.

Therefore, one of the salient objects of our invention is to provide a novel device (which can be readily used either by a layman or a plumber) for effectively cleaning pipes, and which utilizes the city water pressure for this purpose.

Another important object of our invention is the provision of a waste pipe cleaner, which includes an inverted bowl-shaped member adapted to be placed over the drain pipe to be cleaned in sealing contact with the bowl or sink, with means for leading water directly from the faucet into the member, so that the pressure of the water can be utilized for removing the obstruction, and thereafter for eifectively washing and cleaning the pipe.

A further object of our invention is to provide, in effect, a combination plunger and water pressure cleaner for waste pipes, the device being so constructed that when water pressure is forced into the bowl or cup, the cup can be so actuated as to force the water in pulsations into the pipe.

A further object of our invention is to provide a waste pipe cleaner embodying an inverted bowl-shaped member or cup having a iiexible diaphragm adapted to be placed over the pipe to be cleaned in sealing contact with the bowl or Sink around the pipe, the diaphragm being expansible under pressure when water is forced into the cup, whereby the cup can be manually forced down against the diaphragm to drive the water out and under greater pressure into the pipe.

A further object of our invention is to utilize the vent pipe of the drain for a head of water,

so that upon manual release of pressure against the cup, the head of water in the vent can be used against the obstruction in the drain to free the drain.

A further object of our invention is the provision of novel means for forming the inverted bowl-shaped member itself, whereby the same will have sufficient rigidity to hold its shape under pressure, but which is of a sufficiently resilient and iiexible nature to conform to the shape of the bowl or sink, so that an effective 5 seal can be had between the member and the bowl or sink.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a waste pipe cleaner of the above character, which will be durable and eliicient in use, 1u one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, ar- 15 rangement, and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the drawing, in which draw- Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section Z0 through a wall of a building, illustrating a part of a plumbing system for a wash bowl or sink, our improved appliance being shown in operative position in the bowl, and in its expanded condition. 25

Figure 2 is an enlarged, central vertical section through our improved device, showing the same positioned over a drain pipe, and in its normal or collapsed position in full lines, and in its expanded position in dotted lines. 30

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter C generally indicates our improved waste pipe cleaner, and B a bowl or sink with 35 which the same can be used.

The bowl B is provided with a drain pipe 5, which leads to the main sewer or riser drain pipe 6. A vent pipe 'l can be connected with the drain pipe 5 and with the large riser drain 40 pipe 6. This vent pipe extends above the bowl B, and, if preferred, the Same can be brought down into communication with the drain pipe 5 (as suggested in dotted lines in Figure l) instead of being connected with the riser 6. A 45 water faucet 8 is provided for the bowl B.

Our improved device C embodies an inverted bowl-shaped pressure member or cup I0, which is of a substantially semi-spherical shape. The bowl-shaped member or cup l0 is of a 50 particular construction, which forms a salient feature of our invention, and thus the cup includes an outer shell Il formed from relatively thin sheet metal. The sheet metal gives sufficient rigidity to hold the cup or bowl-shaped 55 member I against collapsing when inv use, but will allow the same to flex and conform to the shape of the bowl or sink with which it is associated.

In conjunction with the bowlor cup-shaped member lll, we employ a flexible apertured diaphragm l2. This diaphragm l2 is preferably formed of rubber, so that the same can expand and contract, and is preferably molded into the desired form.

Thus, the diaphragm l2 includes a normally flat bottom wall I3 and an outer annular side wall I4. The normally flat bottom wall I3 is formed with the central aperture i5, which is preferably of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the drain pipe, The side wall I4 of the diaphragm is clamped in place on the bowlor cup-shaped member ill, such as by the use of a clamping spider or the like. As shown in the drawing, we utilize an inner shell i6, which is formed from the same material as the outer shell H, and the wall E45 of the diaphragm is placed between the shells H and i6. The shells are then brought into intimate clamping Contact with the wall Hl, such as by the use of a clamping bolt Il.

The bolt i1 is also employed for holding the manipulating handle E3 in place. As shown, the bolt il' extends through the handle i8 and the axial centers of the shells H and l5, and is held in place by means of a nut i9.

Leading from the member l] at one side of the hand grip is a nipple 20, to which can be attached a flexible hose 2i. The outer end of the hose 2E carries any preferred type of means 22 for connection with the wat-er faucet 8, whereby the water from the city mains can be led directly into the member i6, and then into the drain pipe 5. The water pressure will effectively clear most obstructions from the drain pipe, and thereby permit the effective and economical opening of a drain pipe.

D1 use of my invention, the drain pipe cleaner 'is placed over the drain pipe 5, with the diaphragm i2 in sealing Contact with the upper face of the bowl B, and the hose 2l is connected with the faucet. The operator holds the cup in position over the drain by grasping the handle i8. Upon the opening of thefaucet 8, the water under pressure will fiow through the hose 2l, into the cupor bowl-shaped member it, and into the drain 5 against the obstruction.

If the water has a tendency to back up into the member l0, the diaphragm will be expanded, but the diaphragm is Still held into sealing contact with the bowl B. After the diaphragm has expanded the operator can then exert a greater pressure on the member l0, so as to force the water out from the member HB. rIhis gives greater pressure to the water, and by alternately increasing and decreasing pressure on the mem- A ber l0, the water can be caused to pulsate against the obstruction, which tends to wash the drain pipe clean.

When the operator forces the cup i@ down against the diaphragm, the'water will have a tendency to flow up into the vent pipe and when the operator. decreases his pressure on the bowl l0, the head of water in the vent pipe 'i will also act against the obstruction and tend to free the pipe. This forms an effective method for cleaning most obstructions from drain pipes.

The device is particularly useful in cleaning and washing drain pipes which are not totally clogged, as hot water can be forced under pressure from the hot water pipe into the drain, and the hot water flowing through the drain pipe will clean and wash the pipe. Y

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention, but what we claim as new is:-

l. A waste pipe cleaner for plumbing systems comprising a thin, metallic, inverted cup-shaped member, an apertured expansible and contractible diaphragm secured to the open portion of the cup member, and a fluid-conducting pipe in communication with the cup member.

2. A waste pipe cleaner for plumbing systems comprising a thin, metallic, inverted cup-shaped member, an apertured expansible and contractible diaphragm secured to the open end of the cup-shaped member, a exible Huid-conducting pipe communicating with the cup at one side thereof, and an operating handle secured to the center of the cup-shaped member.

vMARIAN F. SZUKALSKI, J R. MARIAN A. SZUKALSKI, SR. 

